A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a digital key used to authenticate the identity of the person who holds it. The Controller Certification Authority (CCA) has authorized certain entities to make this certificate available to applicants. Having a DSC and digitally signing documents ensures a high level of data integrity and is often preferred by most organizations in recent times.

In the current scenario, dealing with large amounts of digital data has become the norm for all businesses. It can be many images, text files or anything else but in digital format. A digital signature is a full-proof way to identify the true owner of these files. It is an online version of a person’s usual signature, which is done with pen and paper. With this digital signature, the original owner can sign the documents proving the authenticity of the work created.

What is Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)?

Although the words “digital signature” and “digital signature certificate” are used alternatively by the general public between technicians are worlds. A digital signature certificate is like an ID card and is licensed by third parties, most often government agencies. A digital certificate, which is a secure digital key, essentially confirms the identity of the certificate holder.

A DSC is presented electronically to access information or services on the Internet or to digitally sign documents. These certificates use a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which is the widely accepted format for providing a high level of security for digital data. The widest application of digital signatures is in online data transactions.  The certificate authenticates an individual’s credentials while conducting business online.

Advantages of Digital Signature Certificate

A DSC uniquely authenticates an individual’s personal information, while conducting business transactions using the Internet. However, it is not limited to this and also offers a number of other privileges as stated below-

1. Cost and Time Efficiency

Maintaining a DSC saves unnecessary time wastage. Instead of physically signing the documents, the sender can digitally sign them on the fly and send them to the recipient within minutes. The DSC holder does not need to be physically present to authorize or business conduct. It gives the holder the freedom to sign the documents instantly from anywhere in the world.

2.  Data Integrity

This is the most lauded benefit of a DSC.  Documents that are digitally signed cannot be edited or modified after signing. It makes the data safe and secure. The online digital signature reduces the risk of document duplication. It ensures that the signature is verified and legitimate. A signer who has a DSC will be provided passwords, pins and codes that they can use to verify their identity and approve the signature. In addition, the presence of the timestamp with the DSC provides the date and time of the signature. This proves that the document had all the specified content at that point in time and that it was signed at a specific point in time. Therefore, tampering with such a document becomes almost impossible. Despite the level of security provided by a DSC, government agencies require these certificates to be double checked and verified when conducting online
transactions.

3. Smooth Workflow

A DSC ensures that work runs smoothly and without interruption. The digital signature also ensures a better and more efficient workflow. The work is well managed and the documents involved are easy to track. The digital signature offers added value to ensure a smooth workflow.

For example, a simple pop-up email notification could remind someone to sign a document on the spot that they might otherwise have overlooked or forgotten.  Similarly, the status tracking feature allows the person working on a particular document to check their position from time to time.

4. Customer Experience

Before the advent of digital signatures, people had to go to their customers’ websites to sign
documents. This would have resulted in an enormous waste of time and energy. The digital signature now saves time spent completing transactions. Documents can be tracked with less effort, allowing work to be planned more effectively.

Businesses involving sales and marketing need their customers don’t visit from time to time just to sign some papers. This is especially useful in remote areas and small towns that are quite difficult to reach. On the other hand, customers have the freedom to be anywhere and do business 24/7 while enjoying fast and user-friendly services.

DSC Request

The following requirements apply to a DSC Request-

• Applicants can submit original documentation and submit themselves to certification bodies as certified copies.
• DSCs can also be obtained by providing proper proof of identity and address, such as the applicant’s Aadhar card.
• A valid certificate issued by a bank with the personal data of the applicant is maintained in the bank’s database. The certificate is issued by the bank manager.

Note- It should be noted that applicants can also apply for a digital signature online.

Digital Signature Classes

The type of certificate ideally depends on the applicant and the purpose for which the applicant wants to apply for a DSC. Applicants should request digital signatures based on their individual preferences. The authorities designated to issue the DSC to issue three different classes of certificates for digital signatures which are given below- 

Class-1 

This class is basically related to the individuals or the private subscribers. This certificate basically confirms that use’s name or the alias used by the user and his or her email address form a subject which is unambiguous within the database of the certifying copy database. 

Class 2

Class 2 certificates are issued to both individuals and company employees. The certificates confirm that the information provided by the applicant in the application does not conflict with information in recognized consumer databases. This certificate is also mandatory for people who are required to sign the Handbook. Documents while filing declarations with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). This class of certificate is issued for transactions where there is a significant risk of fraud^[1].

Class 3

Used in e-commerce auctions to participate or bid online and for transactions involving online bidding anywhere within India. In fact, this is a high-insurance certificate mainly intended for e-commerce applications. This class of certificate offers first-level security for the processed data. It is only issued to natural people if they appear physically before the certifying authorities. In addition, vendors who frequently collaborate on online tenders for emergency numbers are expected to have a Class 3 digital signature certificate.

Components of the Digital Signature Certificate

The key components of a digital signature are public and private keys and robust software, which is used to transform data into executable algorithms. A DSC can be said to consist of:

• A public key is required as part of the verification system.
• Contact details such as names and email addresses are required to facilitate identification.
• The DSC expiry date is issued. Used to set the lifetime after which the signature can be rolled back after the expiration date.
• The company name is present, which helps identify the issuing authority of the signature.
• The digital identification serial number, which is a unique number included along with the signature, is present and helps in monitoring.

Conclusion

A Digital Signature Certificate is a secure digital key issued by certifying authorities to validate and certify the identity of the person holding that certificate. Digital signatures use public key encryption to create the signatures and contain information about the user’s name, PIN code, country, email address, Certificate issue date and name of the certification authority. In case you have any doubt regarding Digital Signature Certificate, you can contact BizAdvisors.

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